Portland, Oregon • July 31st–August 3rd, 2008

Elections

Dear uNAVSA,

As we approach July, I’d like to get everyone thinking about nominations and elections for uNAVSA’s 2008-2009 Board of Directors. Not only is uNAVSA leadership a service to the Vietnamese American community on an unprecedented scale, it is also a unique and thoroughly rewarding opportunity to take your leadership skills to the next level.

Transformative leadership experience. uNAVSA is committed to developing the next generation of Vietnamese American leaders and will help you do so by managing challenging, complex projects that span the continent. But we will also support you with experienced mentors who will guide you and provide concrete feedback and guidance for you to grow. I will personally spearhead the mentorship program to arm each of you with the best tools and best practices. At the end of your term, you will have learned new leadership and management techniques that will serve you in school, your personal life, and your career.

Unparalleled access to resources. From ideas, sponsors, speakers, media contacts, uNAVSA involvement introduces you to the pioneers within our community. You can take these relationships back to leverage your work with other organizations.

Travel. Select positions will be able to visit regions with 50% of your travel costs covered by uNAVSA. Attend the major community events like other conferences, VANG, etc. on uNAVSA's bill.

Below, I’ve added to that the core set of projects I believe are critical to build upon uNAVSA’s momentum in the near term. (Of course you are free to add to this!)

Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Warm Regards,

Hai Ton
President
uNAVSA 2006–2008
Hai.Ton@uNAVSA.org
Direct: 408.835.8622

Nominations and Elections Process

  • A Nominations and Elections committe has been formed to further flesh out the process. Please check back with updates from the committee.
  • On the morning of Sunday, 8/3, we will allow additional nominations and will hold elections at the conference.
  • Self-nominations are encouraged.
  • Early nominees will be notified prior to conference. Those who cannot attend but wish to run will be allowed to send in a video clip or written speech (3 min) to be presented during the conference.
  • Nominees who are present will give 2–3 minute speeches depending on the position.
  • Each of the 11 regions present will be able to cast one vote per position.
  • Results are determined by simple majority. Ties are settled by the vote of the incumbent eBoard.

Elected Positions

(Requires nomination; self-nominations encouraged, time requirement: 10–20 hours per week.)

President

  1. Deepen the regional relationships we already have and act as ambassador to network with newer regions.
  2. Oversees every major project and is responsible for empowering project managers/coordinators to be successful, from the Collective Philanthropy Project (CPP) to the conference.
  3. Expected to travel every 3 months to a different region to meet with local staff and maintain relations.

Internal Vice President

  1. Ensure that regional reps are informed and connected with each other and with uNAVSA, assessing the needs of each region and how uNAVSA can help out.
  2. Oversee regional development activities (i.e. if a region wants to start a UVSA).
  3. Expected to travel every 6 months to currently active regions to meet with local staff and maintain relations.
  4. Be either a Conference Executive Director or CPP Director.

External Vice President

  1. Develop formal ties to the less active regions (Boston, Pacific Northwest, Canada, District of Columbia, etc.).
  2. Expected to travel every 6 months to currently inactive regions to meet with local staff and build relations.
  3. Serve as uNAVSA’s Public Relations voice. Write and/or review all press releases and ensure they are delivered in a timely fashion. Maintain relationships with media contacts.
  4. Be either a Conference Executive Director or CPP Director.

Treasurer

  1. Develop and maintain uNAVSA’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
  2. Develop and maintain uNAVSA’s operational budget.
  3. Interview and recommend accountant to audit uNAVSA's financials.
  4. Find, apply for, and secure at least $25,000 in annual funding from foundations or federal/state governments to fund uNAVSA on an ongoing basis.
  5. Expected to travel at least every 6 months as needed.
  6. Be either a Conference Executive Director or CPP Director.

Secretary

  1. Develop record keeping system to store all our information, including meeting notes, budgets, documents in one central location accessible to all staff.
  2. Maintain up-to-date content on the website from uNAVSA. Secure ongoing contributions to website content from regional groups.
  3. Work with appointed Systems Infrastructure Director to (1) purchase and install backup systems, and (2) build database system to share contacts (organizations, students, alumni, community leaders, speakers, funding resources, media contacts, etc.)
  4. Expected to travel at least every 6 months as needed.
  5. Be either a Conference Executive Director or CPP Director.

Positions Appointed by New eBoard

(Suggested number of slots; time requirement: 2–5 hours per week.)

Directors

  1. Systems Infrastructure Director (1)
  2. Collective Philanthropy Project Directors (3)
  3. Conference Executive Directors (3)
  4. Fundraising Director (1)

Council of Regional Representatives (CoRR)

(12 members of the CoRR to be re-elected at the conference during Regional Caucuses; time requirement: 2 hours per week.)

Regional Directors

  1. Central U.S.
  2. Eastern Canada
  3. Eastern U.S.
  4. Midwest
  5. New England
  6. Northern California
  7. Northwestern U.S.
  8. Southeastern U.S.
  9. Southern California
  10. Southern U.S.
  11. Southwestern U.S.
  12. Western Canada

Sponsored by

sponsors Lee's Sandwiches SBTN Daegis KPMG UVSA SoCal

Hosted by

uNAVSA